S02 CAF 1 2021 Agenda 1_Layout 1 27/01/2021 14:01 Page 4
AGENDA Telecom Egypt provides Google with a TransEgypt meshed solution
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TELECOM EGYPT, EGYPT’S first integrated telecom operator, has signed an agreement with Google to provide the first-of-its-kind layer three meshed solution on Telecom Egypt’s redundant and resilient Egypt crossing network infrastructure. As part of the agreement, Google will also be provided capacity on Telecom Egypt’s Mediterranean submarine cable, TE North. The project is expected to go live in the first half of 2021. This mesh project connects several cable landing stations in the Red and Mediterranean Seas over diverse routes and will increase the reliability of Google’s international transit traffic, providing an elevated The mesh project is expected to go live in the first half of 2021. level of robustness. Telecom Egypt’s network can reroute traffic as needed in less than 50 milliseconds, and will also offer high-quality availability features with an SLA portal. Adel Hamed, managing director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, commented, "It is our sincere pleasure to work with Google and support its mission to increase the reliability of its traffic regionally. This agreement comes in line with our strategy to solidify Egypt’s position as an eminent digital hub that connects continents using Telecom Egypt’s resilient, multi-routed, and low-latency mesh network that spans the Mediterranean Sea, crosses Egypt, and extends to Singapore." Telecom Egypt offers the global telecom community access to abundant international capacities with the lowest latency and the shortest protected path from Africa and Asia to Europe, building on Egypt’s distinctive geography. The company's advanced infrastructure and its capabilities has led it to become the partner-ofchoice for many international telecom players over the years. Hisham El Nazer, Google Egypt's country manager, said, "With internet penetration accelerating rapidly in Egypt, enhancing the capacity of transit traffic will unlock significant usage potential. We thrive to offer our users a better experience through improved connectivity in Egypt, and across the globe." Telecom Egypt is working on multiple layers of its infrastructure diversity, such as establishing new subsea landing stations and crossing routes, as well as investing in new subsea systems and solutions that will cater for the wave of global demand for international capacities.
NBS Bank announces ecommerce platform and online payment gateway NBS BANK, A commercial bank in Malawi, has launched its ecommerce platform, powered by Network International. The implementation of Network International’s NGenius Online payment gateway will enable NBS Bank to offer small and medium enterprises, large corporations, public institutions and individuals a fast and secure way to enter the growing ecommerce market in Malawi. Kwanele Ngwenya, CEO of NBS Bank, Malawi, said, “We are providing a sophisticated yet low-cost solution, which will not only help grow but further engage our customer base and help drive online commerce across many segments of the population in Malawi.”
Nokia and Airtel Kenya announce deal to lay 5G foundations in Nairobi
Molotov opens seven new markets as part of international expansion
AFRICAN MOBILE OPERATOR Airtel Kenya has selected Nokia to partner it in a three-year deal to modernise Nairobi with high-speed 4G and 5Gready hardware from its comprehensive AirScale portfolio. Deployment will cover hundreds of sites and include upgrading existing 2G, 3G and 4G radio access network (RAN) coverage in urban and semi urban highways, tourist spots and central business districts in Kenya. Nokia’s future-proofed network infrastructure has also been offered to Airtel Kenya to smoothly transition to 5G when necessary. The upgraded network will deliver enhanced connectivity to customers of Airtel Kenya and access to new, high-speed data services. Nokia is supplying Airtel Kenya with its AirScale Single RAN (S-RAN) portfolio for both indoor and outdoor coverage, including base stations and radio access products. These solutions will enable Airtel Kenya to deliver improved connectivity and capacity benefits to its subscribers while reducing complexity and driving cost efficiencies. The improved
MOLOTOV OFFERS CONSUMERS an easy way to navigate through the content and services of publishers and channels on a single platform, accessible from all devices with a simple and intuitive interface, and a single subscription system. With so many choices of niche or mainstream programs, live or ondemand content, Molotov addresses a clear need for simplification at a time of global shift into the OTT era. The launch of Molotov outside the borders of France, by introducing regional versions in seven new markets, marks a milestone in the expansion of the platform. The service in Côte d'Ivoire was launched in December 2020 and has already gained tens of thousands of paying subscribers. Senegal was to follow in January 2021, Cameroon in February, Burkina Faso in March, Tunisia in April, and Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo soon after, before a global rollout in the rest of French-speaking Africa countries. For Africa, which is mainly equipped with smartphones and tablets, Molotov has optimised its applications to take into account regional specificities (low bandrates, unstable connections, low-performance terminals). The monetisation of paid offers relies on payment solutions provided by Digital Virgo and in particular its no-credit-card-needed, per day payment system, provided directly by local mobile operators. Digital Virgo, a global provider of monetisation solutions operating in more than 40 countries with 120 telco partners, brings its expertise in African markets and local marketing to this partnership, thanks to its local branches and its 130 employees on the continent. At launch in the new markets, the line-up consists of fifteen local linear channels, catch-up and on-demand content. Agreements with regional publishers have been reached in order to provide 30 channels by spring 2021.
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Communications Africa Issue 1 2021
network will provide higher data speeds using additional 4G spectrum bands and provide access to secure, high-speed and reliable data services. As part of the deal, Nokia will also deploy its cloud-agnostic NetAct software solution to securely manage Airtel Kenya’s networks. Rajiv Aggarwal, head of CEWA Market Unit at Nokia, commented, “We are proud to supply Airtel Kenya with our comprehensive AirScale portfolio and support the operator with its efforts to deliver the best possible connectivity experiences to end users in Kenya. In a maturing market, we look forward to helping Airtel execute its strategy in the short term as well as set it on the path to 5G services.” Nokia will also provide digital deployment, network planning and technical support services, helping Airtel to launch its services faster to the market. P. D. Sarma, CEO of Airtel Kenya, said, “We are excited to partner with Nokia on this project. Its technology portfolio improves our network quality considerably and also allows us to move to 5G services in the future.”
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